Entertainment
10 Military Thrillers To Watch If ‘Reacher’ Is Your Comfort Show
In 1997, author Lee Child published the novel Killing Floor, which introduced us to the character of Jack Reacher for the first time. The book won both the Anthony Award and Barry Award for best novel, and it kick-started the military thriller series based on the former major of the U.S. military police, who take on odd jobs of investigating and resolving situations. After first being adapted to film, Jack Reacher came to the streaming world in the Prime Video thriller simply titled Reacher, with each season based on one of Child’s novels.
The show has attracted quite a sizable fanbase, and has become quite comfortable for people who love military thrillers. So, this had us thinking, what were the other Reacher-type shows that fans of this thrilling series would enjoy? To do this, we dug into our vast treasure chest of television knowledge to research and come up with the military thrillers that fans of Reacher would be just as comfortable watching.
1
‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)
So, imagine you live in the suburbs, and your next-door neighbors are perfect, a little too perfect. But, as long as they keep inviting you to the backyard barbecues, you don’t mind. Then, one day, you find out why your neighbors are so perfect, as they’re actually spies for the Soviet Union. This scenario is an actual storyline in the FX series The Americans, created by Joe Weisberg, which follows two Soviet KGB officers who pose as Americans to spy on the country.
But all of that spying takes a toll on their family, which transforms The Americans from a high-stakes series to one that actually showcases the complexity of married life. But, make no mistake, The Americans has plenty of tension, thanks in large part to the performances of Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as the KGB spies. It’s actually quite stunning that The Americans have slipped into underrated territory; but, like most of the shows on this list you’re about to read about, use this piece as an excuse to re-watch a truly fantastic series.
2
‘The Sympathizer’ (2024)
Sometimes, a great thriller isn’t always about the action, but the uncomfortable tension that a storyline can bring. Enter The Sympathizer, the HBO miniseries adapted from Viet Thanh Nguyen‘s Pulitzer-winning novel that was captivating from beginning to end. The series follows a North Vietnamese spy who is forced to flee to America at the end of the Vietnam War. However, he continues to spy for the government that took over Vietnam, which takes a toll on him as he struggles with the loyalties of his new life in America and his loyalties to his home country’s government.
Hoa Xuande, who portrayed the spy, was sensational in the role, bringing a charismatic performance to the role as The Captain. His performance, as well as Robert Downey Jr.‘s, brought a certain type of energy that couldn’t be replicated if any other actors were cast in their roles. While being captivating and occasionally funny, The Sympathizer brought a fresh focus to the Vietnam War storyline, telling the tale from the viewpoint of the Vietnamese rather than relying on the American perspective. If you love Reacher, this miniseries should be a must-watch.
3
‘The Last Ship’ (2014–2018)
We lost a treasured actor recently in Eric Dane, and we found it fitting that we included one of the most underrated military thrillers that wouldn’t be the same without him. That show was The Last Ship, ran for five seasons on TNT and is just now being rediscovered, and rightfully so. The Last Ship was a twist on the traditional post-apocalyptic story, with Dane starring as Commander Tom Chandler, who commands the USS Nathan James just as a debilitating virus wipes out 80% of the world’s population.
Now, it’s up to the crew and a paleomicrobiologist (Rhona Mitra) to make sure the virus doesn’t kill anyone else. The Last Ship was full of high-octane energy, bringing high-production value that certainly glossed over some of its formulaic storylines. When you watch this series, you feel like you’re watching a movie, not a TV show, and the creators certainly had a knack for detail when it comes to how a military ship operated.
4
‘SEAL Team’ (2017–2024)
While there have been many military shows that have been produced over the years, few have had the raw authenticity as CBS’s SEAL Team. The series, created by Benjamin Cavell, follows the Bravo Team, the most elite group of Navy SEALs, as they go about the globe taking on dangerous missions with little notice. While the central premise of a badass Navy SEAL team kicking butt all over the world, this military series took a different path in its overall plot.
It may seem cool to head out on dangerous missions, but the soldiers in SEAL Team have families, and the series takes a close look at the toll that constantly going out on dangerous missions have on their loved ones. This makes SEAL Team one of the most realistic military shows on television, daring to dive deep into the psychological effect of service rather than its bravado nature. So, if you’re a Reacher fan, SEAL Team will definitely be your cup-of-tea.
5
‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ (2018–2023)
Before Jack Reacher came to television, we had Jack Ryan, the creation of another famed author, Tom Clancy. Premiering on Prime Video in 2018, Jack Ryan stars John Krasinski as the titular character, a CIA analyst who finds himself in the field trying to bring down some of the world’s worst bad guys.
I’ll admit, when I first heard that Krasinski would play the lead role in Jack Ryan, I had my doubts, as we always saw him as the funny straight guy in the famous sitcom The Office. But he proved me and everyone wrong with his stellar performance as Ryan; and while some may have felt like he brought some of his Office persona to the role, it was just what this show needed to become a hit. While Reacher has definitely outlasted Jack Ryan, this is a series that feels like a spiritual cousin of the former, and that should bring a certain amount of comfort for Reacher fans when they stream this series.
6
‘Generation Kill’ (2008)
While Band of Brothers is, arguably, HBO’s most well-known series on the military, Generation Kills is, perhaps, one of the network’s most underrated miniseries. Adapted from Evan Wright‘s 2004 book of the same name, Generation Kills looks at the horrors of the Iraq War through the lens of a reporter that’s embedded with the US Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion. Created by David Simon, Ed Burns, and Wright, you can feel the grittiness, the horror, and the toll that the war took on the soldiers.
While many critics and viewers praised Band of Brothers for its realistic appeal, Generation Kills was basically bathed in realism. In fact, TV critics often regard this show as being hyper-authentic, showing Marine culture in an unfiltered, not-for-everyone way. The cursing, the jargon, the monotony of combat, the atmosphere, everything looks and feels real. It’s almost like Generation Kills could also have been a documentary, but while it feels that way, you will come away feeling like you watched what a military show should be; thrilling, dramatic, and, most of all, authentic.
7
‘The Unit’ (2006–2009)
Raise your hand if you have heard of the CBS military thriller The Unit? We don’t expect a lot of readers to raise their hands. Heck, even old TV heads like me forgot about this show until I started doing research for this article, which is shocking given that, in the mid-2000s, this show was the network’s most-watched series, with high ratings and being nominated for a Primetme Emmy Award.
Created by David Mamet, The Unit is adapted from Eric L. Haney‘s (who also served as a producer) book Inside Delta Force: The Story of America’s Elite Counterterrorist Unit, the show follows the top-secret Delta Force and how their personal lives are often impacted by dangerous missions. When you see a title like The Unit, you’d think that this show was all high-action; but while it does have its share of thrilling moments, it also functions as a domestic soap opera, especially when it comes when these soldiers are with their families. If you’ve forgotten about this show, now is the time to rediscover one of the best military shows ever.
8
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
I certainly hope that no one who reads this piece thought that we wouldn’t recommend Band of Brothers to fans of Reacher. In fact, we’ll go as far as to say that this stellar miniseries is a must-watch. Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this military war series is often regarded as one of the best shows of all-time, an honor that we certainly won’t disagree with.
As with most of the shows on this list, Band of Brothers was adapted from a novel, this time by Stephen E. Ambrose, who wrote the novel of the same name in 1992. Band of Brothers follows “Easy” Company Parachute Infantry and the role they played in the Western Front of the D-Day invasion in World War II. What many fans of Reacher will absolutely love about Band of Brothers is its unrelenting realism. The way the show is filmed, in a desaturated visual that makes you feel like you’re right there in the middle of all the action, like it should be.
9
‘Lioness’ (2023–Present)
We love everything Taylor Sheridan creates, as he brings that Wild West grit that is simply intoxicating, a sentiment that’s shared with many viewers of his shows. Lioness, however, is a bit polarizing for the Sheridan fanbase. They love the high-action that the series brings, but many thought the show is a bit formulaic with its overall storyline. And, here’s the thing, we really can’t argue with that.
Having said that, formulaic storytelling can often be forgiving if the product on the screen is entertaining, and Lioness is definitely that and then some. Starring Zoe Saldaña as the leader of an elite CIA team that enlists female operatives, Lioness packs a huge punch when it comes to intense, military action. Saldaña is terrific and a bit terrifying as Joe McNamara, the senior case officer who leads the Lioness program. Her presence is imposing and tense, and she gives a very strong performance that easily makes you forgive some of the show’s weaknesses. Lioness is the perfect comfort food show, especially for Reacher fans.
10
‘The Pacific’ (2010)
While we can’t heap enough praise on Band of Brothers, The Pacific is equally amazing. The second of a three-part miniseries that follows the U.S. Military during World War II, Bruce McKenna created The Pacific to focus on the Marine Corps’ role in the war’s Pacific Theater, which was much more devastating and traumatic for Americans as the European Theater was.
The show follows the experience of Marines from three different divisions. Each of the Marines has a different experience than the other, but all the stories are interconnected and all of them showcase the horrors the Pacific Theater unleashed. Much like Band of Brothers, The Pacific is drenched in hyperrealism, but this series is definitely darker and more harrowing than its predecessor; and the visuals are simply top-notch. Gone are the desaturated visuals, and in are haunting tropical hues in which you can feel the punishing heat of the Pacific right through the screen. If you’re a fan of Reacher and you loved Band of Brothers, this series is a much-watch.
